CURATED FIBRES
FABRICS & MATERIALS
It all starts with fibre and fabrics. We work hard to source the most sustainable materials across all our products.
Harris Tweed: Made from 100% British wool, naturally renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. Add to this that wool is breathable, wind and waterproof and flame resistant, all without the need for additional finishes.
Organic Fleece: made from 100% organic cotton and certified by OEKO-TEX to ensure no harmful chemicals are used and discharged into natural waters. We use this material as the internal lining of our club head covers. This material is biodegradable as opposed to the polyester fleece used by other brands.
Lyocell Wadding: we use biodegrable wadding which is the most sustainable option available. Wadding is used between the outer fabric and linings of our headcovers to ensure structure and performance of the design.
Merino Wool: 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. Merino wool is also an odor-resistant, breathable fabric, it's natures technical fabric. We use merino wool in our socks and beanie hats. All our wool is non-mulesed.
Recycled Nylon: There is a small percentage of recycled nylon and Lycra used in our socks. Rather than using virgin nylon, we utilise recycled nylon which provides the most sustainable option whilst ensuring the functionality and longevity of our socks.
Waxed Canvas Organic Cotton: BCI and OCS certified organic cotton using plant based wax and oils to provide weather proofing in a sustainable way for our head covers, shoe bags and dopp kits. For our Mackenzie Golf Bag collaboration we use organic cotton base with fluorocarbon finish free with excellent water proofing properties.
Recycled Labelling: all of our external and internal labels are made from recycled polyester. There are organic cotton labels available, but we have found that these soil through usage (the dirt from golf clubs and perspiration on hats). We believe using recycled non-virgin polyester is the best balance between sustainability and function.
Premium Bamboo: used for our golf tees, bamboo is a more environmentally friendly option than standard plastic tees. Bamboo is a fast growing, sustainable natural resource which is strong and durable.
The Honesty Box. Whilst we strive to use only natural,sustainable materials, sometimes there is no option but to use some synthetic materials and sometimes to get the balance between durability and product performance. So to be transparant the below are the non sustainable materials we use:
Elastane: used for the internal grips on our headcovers. We previously used an organic cotton and rubber version, but found a small percentage of inconsistency in tension causing some issues with usability. Therefore to remove, even though only minimal, any risk of product issues, we use elastane.
Polycotton: The linings in our larger bags and pouches are made from part cotton and party polyester. From testing and experience, the strength of polycotton is far greater than 100% organic cotton linings which is required to ensure durability and function for these products.
RESPONSIBLE WOOL STANDARD (RWS)
We work with each mill and factory in Scotland to ensure we source all knitwear fibre from non-mulesed sheep. The merino wool used in our beanie hats is sourced from Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified farmers. RWS is the highest globally recognised standard for animal welfare. Wool used in our socks is non-mulesed and we are working towards full RWS certification.
What is the RWS?
The Responsible Wool Standard is a voluntary standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on.
Objectives of RWS:
1. Provide the industry with a tool to recognise the best practices of farmers.
2. Ensure that wool comes from farms that have a progressive approach to managing their land, practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the sheep and respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare.
3. Ensure strong chain of custody for certified materials as they move through the supply chain.
THE UNSUSTAINABLE REALITY - CHECK THE LABEL
To provide further context to our fabric and material choices, below is a list of the commonly used fabrics and materials you will find in compartive golf products. These are unsustainable and have a much greater impact on climate change.
Headcovers: PU, Polyester, and Polyurethane are commonly used in club head covers. These are materials derived from petroleum which are unsustainable and non biodegradable.
Knitted Hats: You might be surprised to know the majority of golf knitted hats you find in the pro shops or online are not made of wool, instead they are made from acrylic. Acrylic yarns are made from petroleum and continue to have a negative environmental impact during its lifetime. Every time the yarn is washed, it releases tiny fibers called microplastics into the water supply.
Socks: Acrylic, polyester mixes. Most socks you find will be 100% made from these synthetic pertoleum derived materials.
These synthetic materials aren't biodegradable or recyclable. The process of manufacturing these plastic fabrics has a significantly larger carbon footprint than using natural fabrics. This is why Fyfe Golf seeks to use as many natural fabrics with organic certification which has the least impact on our climate.
